Macomb Medical Examiner's Office called one of nation's best

After facing past criticism from county commissioners and ex-employees, Dr. Daniel Spitz received some good news last week when his Macomb County Medical Examiner’s Office was labeled among the best in the nation.

Spitz achieved his long-sought goal of national accreditation, with the National Association of Medical Examiners granting that distinction and heaping praise on the coroner’s office and staff. In a letter announcing the decision, NAME Chairman Dr. David Fowler called the Macomb facility “one of the best medical examiner offices in the country.”

Out of more than 2,000 coroner and medical examiner offices across the U.S., only 57 currently enjoy full national accreditation from NAME.

“We are proud that the Macomb County Medical Examiner’s Office has joined this elite group -- the top 2 or 3 percent of accredited medical examiner offices in the U.S.A.,” said Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel.

Advertisement

Spitz has spent years putting together a plan to raise the morgue to elite national standards. That involved a reorganization of the staff and the hiring of a second medical examiner, Dr. Mary Pietrangelo. Most of the changes were completed in early 2013 and a June 30-July 1 inspection of that year by NAME put the M.E. office, which conducts about 500 autopsies per year, on the path to accreditation.

“This means that our office, the M.E. office, meets the highest standards for death investigations and that we … can offer reassurances to the community that the processes we follow are among the best,” Spitz said.

Spitz took over medical examiner operations in 2006 from his father, the legendary coroner Dr. Werner Spitz, and he just received a new 4-year contract with the county. In recent years, the son has pushed for a more professional forensic pathology staff that is better trained and, in some cases, accredited within their own medical field.

Some employees, particularly ex-cops who were working as crime scene investigators, bristled at the changes. Some county commissioners who have repeatedly battled with Spitz wondered why the morgue was not accredited and why it was taking so long to achieve that status.

What many commissioners failed to realize is that in the business of forensic pathology, accreditation is a premier status, not the fairly routine procedure that exists in many other professions.

In order to earn accreditation, an M.E. office first submits a report establishing that it has met more than 300 national standards. During the inspection visit, a NAME representative performs a comprehensive inspection of the building and the staff, equipment and supplies. An analysis of the office’s policies and procedures is also performed. The Macomb facility, located on the outskirts of Mount Clemens in the county’s Elizabeth Road complex, has a staff of 13, including five part-timers.

The Macomb County office received full accreditation, without deficiencies, on its first attempt.